South Africa and Botswana Are on the Block as Miner Focuses on Russian Projects

OAO Norilsk Nickel has hired Barclays PLC to sell the majority of the Russian company's international assets, people familiar with the matter said.

The U.K. bank has sent information to prospective buyers for such assets as Norilsk's 50% stake in the Nkomati joint venture in South Africa. African Rainbow Minerals Ltd. owns the rest and has the right to match any offer for Norilsk's stake, one of the people said.